Gum Disease in Children: What You Should Know

Posted February 10, 2017.

You’ve probably heard that gum disease is a serious issue, but did you know that there are a number of myths associated with this issue? For instance, have you been told that gum disease is quite rare in adults? In reality, gum disease is actually quite common. Similarly, have you been told that children are safe from gum disease? Sadly, this claim isn’t accurate either.

If you’ve ever been a parent, you might understand that getting your child to brush can be difficult and that convincing them to brush thoroughly might seem impossible some days. Similarly, you may know that brushing is extremely important if you’re hoping to help your child avoid gum disease. Even when your child starts to brush on their own, you may need to monitor their brushing and watch for some common signs of this issue. For example, if your child’s gums are bleeding, have blood on their toothbrush after they use it, or have red or swollen gums, they could have gum disease.

If your little one does have gum disease, and if it isn’t addressed quickly enough, they could suffer from a number of complications. For example, gum disease can cause sensitive teeth because their gums could pull away from their teeth, exposing their roots. Your child might also lose their alveolar bone, which supports each tooth and helps it stay in place. This will make your child more likely to lose their tooth.

Luckily, there are a few solutions our team could suggest for dealing with gum disease. Naturally, preventing gum disease is preferable, but cleaning your child’s teeth could be enough to reverse gum disease. If you’re interested in hearing more about preventing or reversing gum disease, please don’t hesitate to contact Orem Pediatric Dentistry by calling 801-802-7200. Dr. R. Bruce Howell and the rest of our team will gladly answer any of your questions. We look forward to meeting with you soon.